West Chester coalition winning support in push for new gun laws

Friday, March 1, 2013

We are certain that Susquehanna County offers natural beauty that would rival that of our beloved Chester County. The meandering Susquehanna River, the refreshing cascades at Salt Springs State Park, the vistas from the Endless Mountians of northern Pennsylvania.

But it apparently also includes politiciains who do not understand facts that we view as evident and undeniable. First, that there are laws that individual counties cannot ignore or avoid and two, that the United States is facing a problem concerning gun violence that deserves attention and compromise, not bluster and bungling.

According to the Associated Press, this week the county commissioners in Susquhanna, among the most rural of Pennsylvania counties, passed a resolution saying any new laws restricting gun rights won’t apply there, saying new gun laws passed just over the state line in New York prompted them to act. The resolution passed Wednesday says any new federal act, bill, law, rule or executive order that infringes on Second Amendment rights shall be “unenforceable” in the county. Republican Commissioner Michael Giangrieco says the county’s resolution is an important statement to make in response to the New York laws and current proposals in Pennsylvania.

We are hopeful, and confident, that our county commissioners will use their best judgment not to follow suit with their Susquehanna counterparts. Meanwhile, in West Chester, we are glad to note that some Borough Council members are adding support to a coalition of residents who do see the problem with continued gun violence in our nation. In a response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, a new coalition seeking stronger gun regulations is gathering momentum in the borough.

Members of the West Chester Coalition for the Prevention of Gun Violence have joined together recently at the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester on South High Street to discuss the current state of gun legislation in the country.

“At first it was just a small subcommittee of just our social justice group here, but we envision that it needs to be something bigger,” said Tom Buglio, coalition organizer. Tuesday marked the group’s fourth meeting and included West Chester Councilwoman Cassandra Jones and Dave Scholnick, a representative from Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Buglio said he thinks the country has needed a wake-up call and said the silent majority is starting to speak.

“We are just trying to figure out the best way we can have our voices be heard and keep the conversation going,” Buglio said. Most importantly, he said the coalition needs to find ways to energize and organize other groups so they can work together.

“One big demonstration, that is what I would like to see,” Buglio said. “We are looking for opportunities where the elected officials can see that there are really large numbers of their constituents who feel strongly about this.”